Separation of mixed sulfid ores.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES FAUL, OF ST. KILDA, AND HENRY LAVERS, 0F SURREY HILLS, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MINERALS SEPARATION NORTH AMERICAN CORPORATION.

SEPARATION OF MIXED SULFID OBES.

No Drawing. Continuation of application Serial No. 14,015, filed March 12, 1915.

Serial No. 105,916.

June 26, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES FAUL, a subject of the Kin of England, residing at Moola, St. Leonarc s avenue, St. Kilda, State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, and HENRY LAYERS, a subject of the Kin of England, residing at Canterbury Road, urrey Hills, State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Separation of Mixed Sulfid Ores, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to the separation of mixed sulfid ores and it refers more particularly to flotation separation whereby a fractional or differential flotation of certain sulfids such as zinc sulfid (blende) from other sullids, such as lead sulfid (galena), is obtained. This application is a continuation of our ap lication filed March 12, 1915, Serial Num or 14,015.

The present invention relates to certain improvements in what is commonly known as froth flotation separation in which the ores are subjected to a 'tation or aeration or both in a liquid to w ich is added a small proportion of a mineral-frothing agent,

whereby a froth of the metalliferous particles of the ore is produced which floats to the surface of the liquid, whence it is removed; as is described for example in the rior United States Patents No. 835,120 0 November 6, 1906, No. 962,678 of June 28, 1910, and No. 1064723 of June 17 1913.

We have discovered that differential or preferential flotation is effected by carrying out the froth flotation process in the presence of a mercury material, such as metallic mercury or a compound of mercury, such as an amalgam or a mercury salt.

According to this invention, therefore, a process for the concentration of mixed sulfid ores consists in submitting the ore to flotation separation with agitation or aeration or both in the presence of metallic mercury or a mercury compound to obtain a float concentrate relatively rich in certain sulfids, such as zinc sulfid and a residue relatively rich in other sulfids, such as lead sulfid.

This invention is applicable to various modifications of the agitation-froth process Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

This application filed of concentrating ores to effect a differential or preferential flotation of the zinc sulfids, such as that in which an alkaline medium or circuit Water is employed having a bichromate of an alkali metal in solution.

In adapting this invention to the agitation-froth process, the apparatus may be, for example, of the form described in the prior Patent No. 979857 of December 27, 1910, or No. 1064209 of June 10, 1913, or No. 1084196, of January 13, 1914, and the mercury material, such for example as metallic mercury or a mercury compound such as an amalgam or a mercury salt may be laced in the apparatus in any convenient orm or may be introduced with the circuit liquor or the pulp.

It has not previously been realized that mercury played any part in preferential or differential separation, and our discovery lies in the fact that with many ores the presence of metallic mercury or its equivalent is essential to a good separation of zinc sulfid (blende) or lead sulfid (galena) or other sulfids, or both.

The following example illustrates one application of this invention. A quantity of a mixed zinc lead sulfid ore assaying galena 9%, blende 45% and p rites 30% was mixed with water to form a reely flowing pulp to which was added potassium bichromate amounting to 0.4% on the ore, anq s0dium silicate amounting to 0.2% on the ore. Cresol amounting to one-half pound per ton of ore was then added, and the mixture, which was maintained at a temperature of 140 F., was violently agitated to beat in air. The separating vessel was built of wood and mercury was placed in it. A float concentrate assaying 4.7% lead, 51.5% zinc and 8.6% iron was obtained.

Other experiments have been performed in which similar separations have been eflected of the zinc sulfid (blende) from the lead sulfid (galena) in a circuit water containing other salts in solution, such for example as sodium carbonate or sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogen sulfid in which metallic mercury has been present in the agitation vessel.

Similar results have been obtained by the use of compounds of mercury in the agitation vessel.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A process for the concentration of a mixed sulfid ore which consists in submitting such an ore to flotation separation with aeration in the presence of a mercury material to obtain a float concentrate relatively rich in certain sulfids and a residue relatively rich in other sulfids.

2. A process for the concentration of a mixed sulfid ore which consists in submitting such an ore to flotation separation with aeration in a circuit to which is added a small proportion of a mineral-frothing agent and in the presence of a mercury material to obtain a float concentrate relatively rich in certain sulfids and a residue relatively rich in other sulfids.

3. A process for the concentration of a mixed sulfid ore which consists in submitting such an ore to flotation separation with aeration in the presence of metallic mercury to obtain a float concentrate relatively ric in certain sulfids and a residue relatively rich in other sulfids.

4. A process for the concentration of a mixed sulfid ore which consists in submitting such an ore to flotation separation with aeration in a circuit to which is added a small proportion of a mineral-frothing agent and in the presence of metallic mercury to obtain a float concentrate relatively rich in certain sulfids and a residue relatively-rich in other sulfids.

5. A rocess for the concentration of a zinc-lea sulfid ore which consists in submitting such an ore to flotation separation with aeration in the presence of a mercu mate- 'rial to obtain a float concentrate re atively rich in zinc sulfid and a residue relatively rich in lead sulfid.

6. A process for the concentration of a zinc-lead sulfid ore which consists in submitting such an ore to flotation separation with aeration in a circuit to which is added a small proportion of a mineral-frothing agent and in the presence of a mercury material to obtain a float concentrate relatively rich in zinc sulfid and a residue relatively rich in lead sulfid. v

7. A process for the concentration of a zinc-lead sulfid ore which consists in submitting such an ore to flotation separation with aeration in a circuit to which is added a small proportion of a lnineral-frothing agent and in the presence of metallic mercury to obtain a float concentrate relatively rich in zinc sulfid and a residue relatively rich in lead sulfid.

8. A process for the concentration of a zinc-lead sulfid ore which consists in submitting such an ore to flotation separation with aeration in a circuit to which is added a small proportion of cresol and in the presence of metallic mercury to obtain a float concentrate relatively rich in zinc sulfid and a residue relatively rich in lead sulfid.

9. A process for the concentration of a zinc-lead sulfid ore which consists in submitting such an ore to flotation separation withaeration in a circuit to which is added a small proportion of cresol and a small proportion of a bichromate of an alkali metal and in the presence of metallic mercur to obtain a float concentrate relatively ric in zinc sulfid and a residue relatively rich in lead sulfid.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES FAUL. HENRY LAVERS.

Witnesses:

CLEM A. HART, G. L. OULLEN.

Gopleo of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of ratenta Washington, D. 0. 

